Notes

Common breastfeeding problems

If you have any problems with breastfeeding, it's important to ask for help from your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist as soon as possible.
That way issues like sore nipples or breast engorgement can be sorted out early.
Here are some of the problems breastfeeding mums sometimes have, plus tips on how to tackle them.
Sore or cracked nipples
Sore nipples usually happens because your baby is not well positioned and attached at the breast.
Putting up with it could make pain or discomfort worse, so it's important to get help from your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding specialist as soon as you can.

Not enough breast milk
When you first start breastfeeding, you may worry that your baby is not getting enough milk. It can take a little while before you feel confident that your baby is getting what they need.

Offering your baby both breasts at each feed and alternating which breast you start with will help to stimulate your milk supply. So will keeping your baby close and holding them skin to skin.
Speak to your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist if you're worried your baby is not getting enough milk.
Breast engorgement
Breast engorgement is when your breasts get too full of milk. They may feel hard, tight and painful.
Engorgement can happen in the early days when you and your baby are still getting used to breastfeeding. It can take a few days for your milk supply to match your baby's needs.
Engorgement can also happen when your baby is older and not feeding so frequently, perhaps when they start having solid foods.

Baby is not latching on properly
Breastfeeding is a skill that you and your baby need to learn together. It may take you both a while to get the hang of it.
If you are finding breastfeeding painful or your baby does not seem to be satisfied after feeds, they may not be latching onto the breast properly.


Too much breast milk
Occasionally women make too much breast milk and their babies struggle to cope.
It's best to get your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding specialist to watch a feed to see if they can spot why this is happening. They can also show you different positions to help your baby cope with large amounts of milk.

Breastfeeding and thrush
Thrush infections can sometimes happen when your nipples become cracked or damaged. This means the candida fungus that causes thrush can get into your nipple or breast.

Blocked milk duct
If breast engorgement continues, it can lead to a blocked milk duct. You may feel a small, tender lump in your breast.
Frequent feeding from the affected breast may help. If possible, position your baby with their chin pointing towards the lump so they can feed from that part of the breast.

Breast abscess
If mastitis is not treated, or if it does not respond to treatment, it can lead to a breast abscess, which may need an operation to drain it.

Breastfeeding and tongue tie
In some babies, the strip of skin that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth (frenulum) is shorter than usual. This is known as tongue tie.
Some babies who have a tongue tie do not seem to be bothered by it. In others, it can stop the tongue moving freely, which can make it harder for them to breastfeed.